I smiled as widely as I could and batted my lashes as I took the shot Kane held out for me. “Thank you.”
“Cheers.” He tapped my glass. “To your upcoming nuptials.”
My smile faded, but only for a second before I caught myself. “Sure.” I tossed my drink back, the alcohol burning the back of my throat and contributing to the pleasant buzz I was already feeling.
Then I made the mistake of looking at Preston again.
He leaned against the bar with his arms crossed, watching me with an expression that hovered somewhere between amused and wary. Like he already knew I was about to go completely off the rails.
Good.
Because I’d had just enough to drink that I didn’t care. I needed to have fun and blow off some steam, and that’s exactly what I was going to do.
I straightened the ridiculous sash my friends made me wear, tossed my hair back behind my shoulders, and took an unsteady step in his direction.
Charli had reappeared by my side. “Jess, maybe you should?—”
“Nope.” I didn’t care what she was going to say, because I already knew it wasn’t going to be any fun. I loved my friend, butshe did tend to be a bit of amomlately. And the last thing I needed was another mom. Hell, I didn’t even want to think about the parents Ididhave. They were so excited about the wedding and the fact that I was marrying a successful businessman.
I couldn’t imagine what it would do to them if they found out the truth. Well, Icouldimagine it, and that was the problem.
But it was a problem for another day.
“Maybe you should have some water.” Charli tried to tug me away from Preston.
“I don’t need water.” I kept my gaze locked on the man who, up until very recently, had been my arch nemesis. Now he was…well, I didn’t know what he was anymore. Or maybe I did.
Anotherproblem for another day.
“What I need,” I said. “Is to dance.”
I closed the last of the distance between us and stood directly in front of Preston. I poked a finger into his chest, which was firmer than I expected. Like hitting a wall of muscles. It was distracting in a way I didn’t need to think about at the moment. “You,” I said. “Are dancing with me.”
He blinked. “I don’t dance.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No.” He shook his head with an amused grin. “I don’t.”
“You do today.” I was not to be deterred. “Because I’m the bride.”
His mouth twitched. He looked like he wanted to say something. Or challenge that fact. Fortunately, he didn’t. “I don’t think that means what you think it does.”
“It means that you have to do what I want because it’s the happiest day of my life.”
His brows lifted. “It is, is it?”
“And on the happiest day of my life, I get whatever I want.” I ignored the question. “And I want to dance with you.”
“You’re drunk.”
“And?” I shrugged.
The band struck up something loud and fast. It was the kind of song that made you want to move your feet. Even if you claimed you didn’t dance. I grabbed Preston’s hand before he could argue with me again.
“Jess,” he protested, but didn’t resist.
“Don’t make me beg.” I pulled him toward the dance floor. “Because I will, and that will be embarrassing for both of us.”
